Answer:
Post-operative care includes maximizing nutrition and avoidance of pressure to the operative site, as well as maintaining sutures for extended periods of time (3 weeks) and use of drains and antibiotics as appropriate. All patients require post-operative immobilization on air flotation beds usually in a prone position if the sores were on the buttocks or sacrum. This is then followed by a protocol of progressively longer periods of time spent sitting. Traditionally, it was thought that patients needed up to 8 weeks of immobilization. That time period has shortened over the years. The referenced paper reports the results of a prospective, randomized trial comparing the outcome of 2 versus 3 weeks of postoperative immobilization. While the authors found no difference in complication rates, there was also no difference in length of hospital stay unless patients who had complications were excluded.